Chapa wins three on Texas Champions Day

HOUSTON - Jockey Roman Chapa, who has been riding out of state for the past four months, made a triumphant return to his home state on Saturday night when he guided Dixie Meister, Marfa's Taxes and Leaving On My Mind to stakes wins on the Texas Champions Day card at Sam Houston Race Park.

The program featured eight stakes for Texas-breds worth a cumulative $475,000.

Dixie Meister ($8.60) rallied for a length and a half win over favorite Agrivating General in the featured $100,000 Star of Texas. It was another length and a half back in third to Dreamsandvisions.

"I just kind of sat off the pace and let the rest burn out a little," said Chapa, who had been riding at Hawthorne Race Course and has now shifted his tack to the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs.

Chapa settled Dixie Meister about three lengths behind pacesetter Record Assembly, who led the field through fractions of 23.84 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.91 for the half-mile mark in the mile and a sixteenth race. Dixie Meister advanced three wide on the turn, overtook a stubborn Agrivating General, and went on to cover the distance over a fast track in 1:44.95.

Dixie Meister earned $60,000 for the win, which was his third from 15 career starts. He now has earnings of $224,000. Dixie Meister races for Millennium Farms and is trained by Steve Asmussen.

Chapa teamed with Millennium and Asmussen again later on the card, guiding Marfa's Taxes ($12.20) to a length and three-quarter win in the $50,000 San Jacinto. She was explosive along the rail, winning the mile and a sixteenth turf race for fillies and mares in 1:46.53. Marfa's Taxes also won last year's San Jacinto.

Leaving on My Mind ($22) surged up the rail for a neck win over favorite Northern Scene in the $50,000 Richard King Handicap at a mile and an eighth on turf. Chapa rode the winner for trainer Danny Pish.

Slewpy's Storm in Martanza

Slewpy's Storm won the night's richest race for fillies and mares when she led throughout for a length and a quarter win over Shons Secret in the $75,000 Martanza. It was another length and a quarter back in third to Cookin's Cast.

Slewpy's Storm ($5.60) covered the one-mile in 1:40.38. Larry Taylor was aboard the winner for Stephen Baker and trainer Brent Davidson.

First stakes winner for Lovell

Red Bird's Meister ($6.20) improved his career record to four wins in five starts when he edged Smile Away in a photo to win the $50,000 Spirit of Texas. Charming Socialite rallied for third. Red Bird's Meister was the first career stakes winner for his trainer, Michelle Lovell, and he was ridden by John Byrne.

* Annie Savoy ($7.40) ran her career record to 3-for-3 when she drew out to a three and three-quarter length win in the $50,000 Bara Lass for 2-year-old fillies. Jamie Theriot was aboard Annie Savoy for trainer Kari Craddock.

* Guacamole ($36.60) exploded through the stretch for a two and a quarter length win over 16-1 shot Minstrel Runner in the $50,000 Groovy for 2-year-olds. The exacta paid $981.20. Don Simington rode the winner for Pish.

* Elusive Diva ($9.40) put in a sustained run to catch favorite Shannon's Valentine late and win the $50,000 Yellow Rose for fillies and mares by a neck. Bobby Walker Jr. rode the winner for trainer Randy Mayfield.

* Attendance on Saturday was 7,985, and handle on the 10-race card was 1,996,991.